Local District 2 team finishes atop its pool in Softball World Series

Jennifer Harnish | Kalamazoo GazetteDistrict 2's Rachel Drafta pitches against the Tampa, Fla., team during the fourth inning of a Pool A game Tuesday night in the Big League Softball World Series at Vanderberg Park.

KALAMAZOO -- The host District 2 team received solid performances from three pitchers and got its bats going en route to two victories Tuesday in the Big League Softball World Series at Vanderberg Park.

District 2, which defeated Brzeg, Poland, 9-1, in the afternoon and Tampa, Fla., 6-1, in the early evening, improved its Pool A record to 3-0 and secured the top seed in Thursday's championship round. The squad will face the second seed in Pool B -- likely either the Manila, Philippines team or the Grand Rapids club -- in Thursday's 6 p.m. semifinals.

Before that, District 2 must face San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the completion of pool play at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

"We still want to win (Wednesday), but there's less pressure," said Rachel Drafta, a Portage Northern graduate who scattered seven singles in a complete-game effort against Tampa. Drafta struck out none and walked one.

District 2 totaled 18 hits in the two games.

Alyssa Foy and Jessie Kuhlman led District 2 with three hits apiece on the day. Kelly Hoogeveen got the local squad off and running in the first inning against Tampa, crunching a two-run home run. Kelsey Martin helped put it away for D-2 against the Florida team, delivering a two-run, pinch-hit double in the sixth.

In the first game of the day, Martin and Molly Sleeman combined to limit Poland to three hits. Sleeman, who entered the game in relief, was credited with the win because she pitched four of the seven innings.